NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore recently explained why Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft returned to Earth without them. Initially scheduled for a short eight-day mission, the astronauts had to adapt to a much longer stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS) after the Starliner experienced technical difficulties.
Starliner’s technical problems force it to return empty
The Boeing Starliner faced problems that ultimately forced NASA to send the spacecraft back to Earth without its intended crew. Although the spacecraft experienced helium leaks and propulsion issues, it landed successfully. Wilmore explained, “We could have gotten to the point where we could have come back on Starliner, but we just ran out of time.”
NASA made the decision to return the empty Starliner in early September, prioritizing the need to free up the docking port for other spacecraft. Williams expressed relief at the spacecraft’s safe return, saying, “I was very glad it got home safely.”
The availability of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon as an alternative played a crucial role in the decision-making process. Wilmore highlighted this advantage: “There have been many instances in the past where there have been no other options.” Both astronauts plan to return to Earth in 2025 aboard the Crew Dragon.
Wilmore said, “Obviously when you have issues like we’ve had, there are some changes that need to be made. Boeing agrees with that. We all agree with that.” Acknowledging the risks inherent in testing new spacecraft, Wilmore said, “When you’re doing things with spacecraft that have never been done before, like Starliner, you’re going to find some things. In this case, we found some things that we just weren’t comfortable with.”
Despite the unexpected length of her stay in space, Williams remains optimistic. “This is my happy place. I love being up here in space. It’s just fun,” she shared.
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